TCM Scedule for Wednesday, December 25: Star of the Month: Fred Astaire

[CBHagman]

Wednesday, December 25th, 2013

The Christmas Day schedule is devoted to films on faith, but on Christmas Night it's time to face the music and dance.

1:15 AM
Bishop's Wife, The (1947)
An angel helps set an ambitious bishop on the right track.
Dir: Henry Koster Cast: Cary Grant , Loretta Young , David Niven .
BW-109 mins, TV-G, CC,

3:15 AM
Holiday (1938)
An unhappy heiress falls in love with her stodgy sister's freethinking fiance.
Dir: George Cukor Cast: Katharine Hepburn , Cary Grant , Doris Nolan .
BW-96 mins, TV-G, CC,

5:00 AM
Star in the Night (1945)
In this short film, three cowboys see a bright light in the distance and decide to investigate on Christmas Eve.
Dir: Don Siegel Cast: J. Carrol Naish , Donald Woods , Anthony Caruso .
BW-22 mins, TV-G,

5:30 AM
Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima, The (1952)
Three children from a small village claim to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary.
Dir: John Brahm Cast: Gilbert Roland , Angela Clark , Frank Silvera .
C-102 mins, TV-G, CC,

7:13 AM
Miracle At Lourdes (1939)
In this short film, a doctor suffers a crisis of faith when his wife is struck down with a crippling disease.
Dir: Henry K Dunn Cast: Wyndham Standing , David Snell , G P Huntley .
BW-11 mins,

7:30 AM
Big Fisherman, The (1959)
Drama that focuses on the later life of Peter, one of the closest disciples of Jesus.
Dir: Frank Borzage Cast: Howard Keel , Susan Kohner , John Saxon .
C-165 mins, TV-PG, CC,

10:16 AM
Shoes Of The Fisherman, The (1968)
This promotional short film offers a behind-the-scenes look at the political drama "The Shoes of the Fisherman" (1968).
C-9 mins,

10:30 AM
Ben-Hur (1959)
While seeking revenge, a rebellious Israelite prince crosses paths with Jesus Christ.
Dir: William Wyler Cast: Charlton Heston , Jack Hawkins , Haya Harareet .
C-222 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format

2:13 PM
Ben-Hur: Behind The Scenes With Glenn H. Randall & Yakima Canutt (1959)
This promotional short offers a behind-the-scenes look of the making of "Ben-Hur" (1959), focusing on how Glen Randall and Yakima Canutt worked together to film the legendary chariot race.
BW-7 mins,

2:30 PM
Robe, The (1953)
Biblical epic in which a Roman military tribune, who commands the unit that crucified Jesus Christ, tries to learn about the man he killed.
Dir: Henry Koster Cast: Richard Burton , Jean Simmons , Victor Mature .
C-134 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format

5:00 PM
King of Kings (1961)
Epic retelling of Christ's life and the effects of his teachings on those around him.
Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: Jeffrey Hunter , Siobhan McKenna , Robert Ryan .
C-160 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format

7:49 PM
Let'S Dance (1936)
In this short film, choreographer Dave Gould and his students demonstrate various tap dancing steps.
Dir: David Miller
BW-8 mins,

WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: STAR OF THE MONTH: FRED ASTAIRE

8:00 PM
Top Hat (1935)
A woman thinks the man who loves her is her best friend's husband.
Dir: Mark Sandrich Cast: Fred Astaire , Ginger Rogers , Edward Everett Horton .
BW-100 mins, TV-G, CC,



9:50 PM
Streamlined Swing (1938)
In this musical short, a group of waiters sing to bring in customers to their diner.
BW-9 mins,

10:00 PM
Swing Time (1936)
To prove himself worthy of his fiancee, a dancer tries to make it big, only to fall for his dancing partner.
Dir: George Stevens Cast: Fred Astaire , Ginger Rogers , Victor Moore .
BW-104 mins, TV-G, CC,



11:49 PM
Jimmie Lunceford And His Dance Orchestra (1937)
In this short, Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra perform their upbeat jazz with the help of guest performers.
Dir: Joseph Henabery
BW-10 mins,

12:00 AM
Shall We Dance (1937)
A ballet dancer and a showgirl fake a marriage for publicity purposes, then fall in love.
Dir: Mark Sandrich Cast: Fred Astaire , Ginger Rogers , Edward Everett Horton .
BW-109 mins, TV-G, CC,



2:00 AM
Carefree (1938)
A psychiatrist falls in love with the woman he's supposed to be nudging into marriage with someone else.
Dir: Mark Sandrich Cast: Fred Astaire , Ginger Rogers , Ralph Bellamy .
BW-83 mins, TV-G, CC,



3:30 AM
Barkleys Of Broadway, The (1949)
A married musical team splits up so the wife can become a serious actress.
Dir: Charles Walters Cast: Fred Astaire , Ginger Rogers , Oscar Levant .
C-109 mins, TV-G, CC,

5:30 AM
MGM Parade Show #15 (1955)
George Murphy hosts a special Christmas show featuring Judy Garland performing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in a clip from "Meet Me in St. Louis."
BW-26 mins, TV-G,

[Auggie]

1. Top Hat: Best of the Astaire/Rogers films

Best Astaire film of all, IMO. Plot, dancing, direction, pacing … all comes together.

I met the guy behind Fred Astaire in the Top Hat number. He was a last minute replacement when one of the chorus members sprained an ankle. As an assistant to Hermes Pan, he already knew the dance.